#71. Award-Winning Sober Bartender's Guide to Non-Alc Spirits & Cocktails

Send me a message 🤗Chris Cardone is a beverage consultant, chief mixologist and career bartender who, despite being sober for nearly 10 years, has continued to work in the hospitality drinks industry and help make the bar scene more inclusive for those seeking alternative ways to drink.He is the winner of Bartender of the Year, a four-time national flair bartending finalist, and has even taught celebrities like Tom Holland how to flair bartend. From Chris’s terrifying brain chemistry causing terrifying hallucinogenic reactions to even small amounts of alcohol to the naysayers claiming a sober bartender couldn't succeed, this story is incredible.And, of course, he also shares invaluable insights into what makes quality alcohol-free spirits, the education gap in the industry, why non-alcoholic options deserve their place (and price point) alongside traditional cocktails, and how to make the most of non-alc spirits at home. WE CHAT ABOUT0:00 Meeting Chris Cardone1:54 The importance of hospitality3:37 Chris' story5:33 Hallucinogenic episodes8:08 A life changing question9:10 Staying in hospitality sober12:05 A chemical reaction?14:14 Being a sober career bartender17:38 People thought I was sick19:27 They told me to shut the fuck up23:38 Watching the birth of a culture27:30 What Chris thinks of Seedlip & Co29:02 This isn't a trend30:09 The good, the bad & the ugly of non-alc spirits33:22 The alcohol-free cocktail experience35:22 Where brands go wrong36:47 Excited by Sylva & Ben Branson38:46 The lack of education around non-alc spirits42:22 The power of the bartender43:32 Understanding the value of non-alc48:31 A call to brands: Teach us!52:13 Making alcohol-free cocktails at home53:51 Tip 2: Start with a classic54:43 Tip 3: Tinker & test57:41 The Continuous Bev Consultancy58:49 Creating a balanced cocktail menu59:37 The cost of NOT having a non-alc offer1:02:06 Corporate event consulting1:03:55 Finding Chris1:04:46 The BBQ-Q CHRIS ON LINKEDIN  //  CONTINUOUSBEV.COM WE ALSO TALK ABOUT:BeroSeedlip*The PathfinderAplosSeasnAll the BitterLyresRitualAthleticPeroni 00Guinness 00Prima PaveTost*===🗝️ Become a Vault member to get access to the moderation tools that actually help - https://mindfuldrinking.substack.com/s/the-vault===✏️ Come hang out with me on Substack - https://mindfuldrinking.substack.com/===Take the Midlife Drinking Triggers Quiz - https://quiz.tryinteract.com/#/68dd33385bb4a20015996a13===*Some links are affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may earn a commission that helps me keep the show going. Thank you.